Warbird Information Exchange

I would love to have the B-52B nose for our museum, but in all reality there is no way to pay for it, nor move it to New Mexico. Does anyone have recent photos of it?

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html

The SNJ & TBM are also off the table at this time....

Any I.D. or photos of the F-86A?

any news on the p47 fuselage? will they sell it?

Yes the p47 is available.

Would anyone have a telephone contact for someone regarding the Soplata Collection? Family or the one in charge of selling the aircraft?

Errr....see post above yours?...

Guess I should open my eyes a little wider. Thank you.

Good luck! If I had the space I'd be right there too.

I went by there today and took a peek. It’s hard to say what I would do if I was an heir. So much stuff. It’d be a great episode of “Strange Inheritances.” Also visualized a coffee table book with pretty color photos for sale at Christmas and at bookstores. The theme would be pictures of the aircraft when flying , then at the Soplata property and then where they are now. I’d probably put the orange Super Corsair on the cover with an inset pic of it when derelict. The page on the blue and white Super Corsair would be a great time to argue if these aircraft should be flown again.
The terrain in Ohio is relatively flat until you get near Newbury. Lots of hills, lakes, winding curves and state parks. His last few miles were the most difficult bringing the items home. There’s a lot of “aviation carnage” there. Stuff that crashed or certainly went through a process where the handlers only saw it as wreckage , pollution or scrap to be recycled. In other words there’s fuselages, engines and cowling that are pretty rough.
I guess the “platinum and gold “ aircraft are mostly gone. The Corsairs, Twin Mustangs, etc. the prototype Skyraider is still there and no doubt they are in discussions with many buyers. The F7U Cutlass is there and “is in the trees.” A huge fighter plane and it’s bare metal skin is extremely oxidized. My vote is for it to go to a museum open to the public, so someday it can be viewed without having to know somebody. There was a piece of twisted, mangled, wing near the SNJ that didn’t seem to have any remaining usefulness. I think it would be okay if a few things went to recycling. Some things are common and in poor condition, like rotten engine mounts that don’t have a future purpose. The F-86k, BT-13, blue T-33, etc will require extensive work to be display ready.
I think it adds value to be able to say this piece came from the Soplata collection. Also, regarding the B-36, there’s a lot missing and this limits it’s options. My thought Would be to acquire the fuselage pieces that are there, repair, restore, and repaint the exterior . Then have as an indoor display with a mural backdrop of B-36’s flying. Finished, I would market not only to aviation but also military vehicle and gun collectors. That’s a much more broad market. The interior could be used for display space.

There should just be an F-86L; an F-86L fuselage and possibly the F-86F remaining there. No K.

The P-47 is off the table at this time.

As stated by Marine Air there is still a long was to go on this property, however when you look at how for it has come in the last couple of years progress is being made.

By the way the collection is closed to visitors unless approved by the family. Yes a contact phone number is posted at the property. That does not mean we do not allow visitors, we personally escort visitors. This is for your protection and ours.

Still remaining and available:
Skyraider
Cutlass
F-86 L
F-86 D
AT-11
BT-13
BT-12

Fuselage
F-86 L

Cockpit
B-52
Victor
CF-100
DC-7

There are also a lot of parts and pieces remaining, gun turrents, crew seats, ejection seats, etc.

The B-36 and the KC-97 are both set in concrete.

The only thing I see on the B-36 that could be salvaged is the cockpit. That would be up to the family if they would allow this. I say that because the front half of the bird has been tinned together.

What gun turrets do you have>

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Cheers,
Peter

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Please know that I didn't trespass. The signage worked well and I didn't even get close enough to the signs to see the phone number. Because it was a holiday weekend and a Sunday, my thought was to not bother anyone. A neighbor told me she knows Walt's daughter so I penned a note for her to give them so they will know I'm sincere about buying the two aircraft I listed on the note.
I thought the place looked pretty good and compares to many homes in the area that have the "au naturale" look. The area has private lakes and a state park nearby with abundant natural beauty. Hope to bring a checkbook and trailer up there someday.